Sabbath School Lesson for September 28-October 4, 2024
Introduction and Overview of Lesson 1, Signs That Point the Way
Key Text: “And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.” John 20:30-31 NKJV
John, the youngest disciple among the twelve and one of the “Sons of Thunder”, was also the one who lived the longest, dying on the lonely island of Patmos. He was direct in his purpose for writing this account of Jesus’ life. It was so we can know that Jesus is the Son of God, who gives us life.
John humbly called himself the disciple “whom Jesus loved”. That doesn’t mean he was a favorite of Jesus; but, rather it indicates that being so young, he may have been more open and receptive to Jesus’ love and grace.
This gospel is unique from the other three. Many of the events that John wrote about are interactions between Jesus and just one or two people. John had the ability to take his eyes off the large crowds and capture the more intimate conversations and miracles of His Master.
Many of the signs and miracles John records do not appear in the other Gospels; but were, nonetheless, observed by the disciples in their quieter moments with each other. They reinforce for us, just as they did for the disciples. that Jesus was God’s Son in the flesh (John 1:14).
This week, we will see…
- Sunday: The Wedding at Cana–reminding the disciples of when Moses, another deliverer, turned the water of the Nile into blood
- Monday: The Second Sign in Galilee–Jesus healed the nobleman’s son without even being there
- Tuesday: The Miracle at the Pool of Bethesda–Jesus healed on the Sabbath by telling a lame man to get up and walk
- Wednesday: Hard Hearts–Jesus healed a man’s withered hand on the Sabbath, again ignoring the tedious, manmade regulations about Sabbath observance
- Thursday: Jesus’ Claims–Jesus claimed equality with God, so He was also charged with blasphemy
Sunday: The Wedding at Cana
How appropriate that Jesus’ first miracle happened at a wedding. Marriage was ordained by God back in the Garden of Eden. And Jesus’ presence at this humble, smalltown gathering set the stage for how He would continue to go where the people were and show an interest in fulfilling their needs. Even today, we can invite Jesus to attend our wedding festivities, knowing that He longs to continue blessing our sacred, committed unions.
In addition, the disciples, having just been called to follow this unusual Master, were exposed firsthand to the quiet miracle that occurred when Jesus turned water into wine. It must have reminded some of them how, during one of the plagues, Moses was used to turn the waters of the Nile into blood. Could it be that Jesus would turn out to be their Deliverer as well?
Some, of course, have questions about what kind of wine Jesus provided for the wedding guests in Cana. The Greek word for wine (oinos) is used for both fresh and fermented juice. It certainly makes sense that this new wine was not fermented, but rather the pure, fresh juice of the grape. Surely, the freshest juice at these weddings would have been served first. But the bridegroom marveled that his host had saved the newest, best juice, or wine, till last, not knowing that the juice was previously water just a few moments before.
Bible Verses:
John 2:1-11
- How did this sign of God’s power help the disciples know who they were following?
Monday: The Second Sign in Galilee
Another miracle or sign for the disciples that pointed to Jesus’ identity happened when a nobleman’s son was healed. A nobleman in Cana heard that Jesus from Judea was there and approached Him, asking for his seriously-ill son to be healed. Jesus, without even seeing the boy, told the worried father that he would be well. When the father got home, he found it to be so. His son’s fever had left the day before, at the same hour Jesus had declared him well.
This “long-distance” healing was done quietly, but it showed dramatically the extreme power of the One the disciples had chosen to follow. It was noteworthy that Jesus had first said to the nobleman. “Unless you people see signs and wonders, you will by no means believe.” Instantly, the nobleman saw his own lack of faith and sensed that it might keep his son from getting well. He quickly opened up his heart and believed that Jesus could heal his son.
The disciples must have been amazed that Jesus not only healed people so effortlessly, but He could also read their hearts and heal their broken spirits.
Bible Verses:
John 4:46-54
- What connection might there be between this miracle and the one at the wedding, and why did John think they were both important?
- Since Satan can also perform supernatural “miracles”, what other criteria do we have of a miracle being from God?
Tuesday: The Miracle at the Pool of Bethesda
How it must have moved Jesus’ compassionate heart as He walked in the temple on the Sabbath and saw the many sufferers around the Pool of Bethesda. He knew that each of them had serious ailments. That’s why they were there–in hopes of getting in the Pool first when the waters stirred, so they might be healed. At least, that was the commonly-held belief at the time.
Jesus, quietly approached one of the crowd gathered there, knowing that he had been lame a long time. Thirty-eight years, John tells us in John 5:5. It may have then seemed like an unusual question for Jesus to ask the pitiful man if he wanted to be healed. Of course, that’s why they were all there by the Pool. But in reply, the crippled man politely described his plight of not having help getting in the water fast enough when the water stirred.
This time, Jesus didn’t mention having faith. He merely told the man to get up, take his bed, and walk (John 5:8). Without a moment’s hesitation, showing that he already had faith, the lame man followed His direction, and happily proceeded to carry his bed home.
Bible Verses:
John 5:1-9
- How did this quiet miracle further show the disciples the identity of the Man they were following?
- What kind of faith should we have, when it comes to obeying the word of God?
Wednesday: Hard Hearts
Without a thought that he had broken any Sabbath regulations by carrying his mat, the healed man was seen by some Jewish leaders. They, of course, questioned him about it, and finally found out that his Healer was Jesus.
They used this incident as a point of contention they had with the Healer from Galilee. In their minds, He had told someone to break the Sabbath by healing him and also by telling him to carry his mat. Healings were allowed by the Jews in an emergency. But, there didn’t appear to be any emergency in the case of this man who had been lame for so many years.
The Pharisees were against Jesus from the very beginning of His ministry. His actions went against everything they had been taught in the synagogue. Even though their ideas about breaking the Sabbath came from long-cherished, human regulations, they just couldn’t imagine that any credible spiritual leader would disobey them.
Instead of rejoicing at the miraculous healing they had learned about, these hard-hearted religious elites instead allowed their hard hearts to be hardened even further.
Bible Verses:
John 5:10-15
- What made the healed man get noticed and questioned by Jewish leaders?
- What was their reaction, and what should have been their reaction?
- How do we sometimes allow ourselves to ignore the feelings and needs of others, hardening our hearts as a result?
Thursday: Jesus’ Claims
John, chapter 5, definitely reveals the reason John wrote his Gospel. Only nine verses told about the man healed at Bethesda. But the next forty verses tell us about Jesus’ claim to the Pharisees about who He was.
Performing the miracle on the Sabbath was just part of His claim to divinity. He professed to have the right to give life and to judge others (John 5:21-22). Furthermore, He said they should honor Him, the Son, just as they honor the Father (John 5:23). And, if they didn’t have the love in their hearts to believe what Moses or John the Baptist preached about (John 5:36, 42, and 46), they were obviously not going to believe Him or the word of God either (John 5:38-39).
This chapter mentions four witnesses of who Jesus was.
- John the Baptist (John 5:33)–“Behold! The Lamb of God!” John 1:29
- the miraculous works of Jesus (John 5:36)
- His Father (John 5:37-38)–“You are My beloved Son” Luke 3:22
- the Scriptures (John 5:39)
Bible Verses:
John 5:16-18
- For what reasons did the Jews wish to kill Jesus?
- Was He guilty of their charges? Why was it still wrong to accuse Him?
John 5:19-30
- Why is it important that Jesus have power over life and judgment?
John 5:31-47
- What fourfold witnesses tell us who Jesus was?
Friday: Final Thoughts
The book of John continually reminds us to have faith. There was a marked contrast between the Jews who followed the Messiah and loved His signs of divinity and the religious leaders who lacked faith and love for God’s Son. It’s alright to sometimes be confused and question what we believe. But, if we don’t accept what we learn to be true, there is a danger of becoming hardened, and having doubt that will keep us from fully knowing God.
A Christian author tells us: “Of ourselves we are no more capable of living a holy life than was the impotent man [by the Pool of Bethesda] capable of walking…He bids you arise in health and peace…in acting upon His word you will receive strength.” The Desire of Ages, p. 203
Yes, let’s not forget that God is our refuge from fear and our greatest source of strength (Psalm 46:1).
Next Week: Signs of Divinity
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